Keto Food List

If you’re just getting started, make sure to also check my full guide about how to start a ketogenic diet and calculate your macros using the macro calculator to determine your optimal carb intake. (Also, read up on keto flu symptoms and remedies so that you can avoid that hurdle.)

And if you want everything done for you, check out my Wholesome Yum app — it’s free to try and includes custom meal plans, so you can eat exactly what you like and still have your meal planning and grocery list done for you. It also includes all kinds of keto foods, so you never wonder what to eat.

Printable Keto Food List

Many of you have requested a low carb food list printable, and I have you covered! I offer my keto food list PDF for free to my email subscribers — and I promise no spam or strings attached. If you want it, just fill out the form below and I’ll email it to you right away:

Get The Keto Food List PDF

GET IT NOW

Otherwise, I recommend bookmarking this page. The nice thing about the website version of my keto food list is that it’s searchable — just use the “Find on page” function on your computer or phone.

If you want a shorter list of what to buy the first time you’re at the store shopping for low carb foods, check out my simpler keto grocery list.

Keto Vegetables

My keto food list includes a range of moderate to very low carb vegetables. I recommend eating these often because they’re some of the best high fiber low carb foods, and a great source of vitamins and minerals.

I also have a list of keto vegetables here, including the best ones to eat, recipes, and which ones to avoid. Some examples to avoid include starchy vegetables like carrots, white or sweet potatoes, and most types of beans.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens make excellent low carb foods, because they are filling, packed with fiber and nutrients, and very low in both carbs and calories.

FREE PRINTABLE: LOW CARB FOODS

GET IT NOW

Low Carb Fruits

Fruits are more challenging than vegetables, so there aren’t as many on the keto food list, but you can still enjoy some types in moderation. The best ones for a low carb diet are primarily berries, avocados, and citrus that isn’t sweet. You can learn more about keto fruit here. Avoid high-sugar or tropical fruits, such as pineapple, mango, bananas, apples, pears, and grapes, and all types of fruit juice.

Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are crucial for a keto diet food list! They keep you full and satisfied, plus they help you stay in ketosis.

All pure fats/oils are zero carb, but I always avoid soy, corn, canola, “vegetable”, and cottonseed oils. These seed oils are usually GMO and highly processed.

When choosing fats for cooking, I also consider the smoke point. Avocado oil, olive oil, and refined coconut oil work best for high-heat cooking. Any extra virgin oil, like extra virgin olive oil, will have a lower smoke point and I reserve these for lower heat or no-heat uses, such as salad dressing.

Meat & Poultry

Meat and poultry are the infamous items on a keto food list, because many people picture keto as being a lot of meat. These are definitely great high protein low carb foods, because they have zero carbs (provided that there is no sugar added in the preparation), but I recommend choosing whole cuts of meat rather than processed types.

For keto, choose fattier cuts of meat when you can (such as beef or dark meat chicken), but I often cook lean chicken breast too and just add fat when cooking. I look for grass fed, pasture raised meat and poultry, but it’s not absolutely necessary.

Seafood

Fish and other seafood are some of my favorite keto food list staples, because they have healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Watch for carbs in shellfish, though, which can be a little higher than other protein types.

Low Carb Foods List PDF

GET IT NOW

Eggs & Full-Fat Dairy

Milk is not keto (or low carb), but many other types of dairy products are. For those (like me) that can tolerate dairy, it makes a great addition to a low carb food list. Choose full-fat dairy over fat-free or low-fat, which is higher in carbs. For cheese in particular, check my keto cheese list.

Coconut cream is not dairy, but makes a great substitute, so I included it here. It’s thick and creamy, and often works instead of heavy cream, yogurt or even sour cream in recipes.

Although Eggs are also not dairy, I listed them in this section for convenience. They are found in the dairy section of the grocery store, but you can still enjoy them if you are dairy-free.

Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds are low carb foods to enjoy in moderation. They can be easy to overendulge on, so portion control is important. Still, I think they make great snacks or additions to keto recipes.

Low Carb Beverages

Whenever possible, drink water! It is by far the best beverage. You can change it up by adding lemons or cucumber slices. That being said, my complete low carb food list does include other beverage types you can enjoy.

Drinking alcohol can stall weight loss, but is okay to enjoy in moderation. Skip the fruity, sugar-laden drinks and beer; stick to either hard alcohol and dry wines. (Learn more about low carb alcohol options here.)

FREE PRINTABLE: LOW CARB FOODS

GET IT NOW

Keto Sweeteners

If you’ve spent a hot minute here at Wholesome Yum, you know I only recommend natural low carb sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners are more likely to spike insulin and have less known long-term effects. For a more detailed look, read my keto sugar substitute guide.

All the sweeteners in this list have 0 net carbs, because they either do not get absorbed or do not metabolize by the body. Serving sizes and sweetness can vary by brand, depending on blend/concentration, so check my sweetener conversion chart if you make swaps.

Low Carb Flours & Baking

Who says you can’t enjoy baked goods on a low carb diet? You can! Of course, they are still best in moderation, but it’s definitely doable to make keto baking recipes — and I find them so helpful to stay on track.

Below is a list of common low carb flours and other baking staples, such as thickeners and extracts. I always check labels to make sure no sugar or artificial additives are included.

Learning to bake with low carb flours takes time, because they behave differently from traditional wheat flour. Get started by following my tried and true almond flour recipes, simple coconut flour recipes, or browse all my low carb dessert recipes!

Herbs

Herbs make great additions to give your keto foods flavor, with very little carb impact. Carbs listed below are based on chopped fresh herbs.

If using dried herbs, the conversion is 3:1. That is, 1 tablespoon fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon dried herbs. (This conversion applies for carb counts, but it’s also the conversion I recommend for recipes, because dried herbs are more concentrated in flavor.)

FREE PRINTABLE: LOW CARB FOODS

GET IT NOW

Spices & Seasonings

Including spices and seasonings in your dishes makes them a lot more interesting, so for me they’re a must! Most are suitable for a keto diet food list, but watch for added ingredients. Some blends add cornstarch or sugar, which I recommend avoiding.

I also make many seasoning mixes at home to save money and avoid the weird ingredients. Try my homemade Italian seasoning, taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, pork chop seasoning, or pumpkin pie spice to get started!

Keto Friendly Condiments

There are plenty of condiments that you can enjoy in foods with low carbs. Just watch for added sugar where you might not expect it, and skip high-sugar ones like pre-made ketchup or sweet dressings.

For any store bought items below, the numbers are based on those without added sugar. If possible, it’s better to make your own, using low carb ingredients and sugar-free or no sweetener.

Soy sauce is not on this list because it’s estrogenic and I don’t recommend it for clean keto, but coconut aminos makes a great substitute for cooking low carb foods. If you’re okay with “dirty keto” (processed or inflammatory foods) or not concerned about soy, carbs in soy sauce are still very low.